UK · Master's
School of Law, University of Nottingham
LLM in International Law
School of Law, University of Nottingham
Course Overview
Nottingham's LLM in International Law is run out of the School of Law — a top-15 UK law school (Complete University Guide 2026, Guardian) and home to the Human Rights Law Centre, which runs one of the UK's most respected international human rights and international criminal law research clusters. The 1-year LLM is modular: students take three core modules (Public International Law, International Human Rights Law, International Criminal Law) plus three electives from a deep menu (Law of Armed Conflict, International Refugee Law, International Investment Law, WTO Law, Law of the Sea), and complete a 15,000-word dissertation. The school runs the Nottingham International Law Journal and a long-running mooting partnership with the Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition.
Sri Lankan applicants choose Nottingham over LSE / King's because the tuition is significantly lower (£28,000 vs £37,000-£42,000 at London schools) and the international-law specialisation is academically equivalent, with senior faculty regularly appearing as expert witnesses at the ICJ and the ICC. Graduates qualify for the 2-year UK Graduate Route. Sri Lankan returnees have routed into the Attorney General's Department, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, leading commercial law firms (Julius & Creasy, F.J. & G. de Saram, Nithya Partners, Sudath Perera Associates, Neelakandan & Neelakandan), the Foreign Ministry (legal section), and international tribunal work via the Permanent Court of Arbitration's Asia Pacific outreach.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Sri Lankan LLB (Hons) — minimum Upper Second-Class (2:1) — from the University of Colombo Faculty of Law, the Open University of Sri Lanka, KDU Faculty of Law, the Sri Lanka Law College, or a recognised UK / international LLB.
- check_circle Attorney-at-Law admission to the Sri Lankan Bar is highly valued but not required for direct LLM entry.
- check_circle Two academic references; a sample of legal writing (essay or moot memo) may be requested.
- check_circle Personal statement (500-800 words) articulating research interests within International Law and connection to the school's research clusters.
- check_circle Applications are reviewed on rolling basis from October — apply early for scholarship consideration.
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 7.0 Overall (no element below 6.5).
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 100 Overall (min 22 in Writing, 22 in Speaking).
- check_circle PTE Academic: 71 Overall (min 65 in each section).
- check_circle Waived if your LLB was taught and assessed entirely in English — Sri Lankan LLBs from UoC Faculty of Law, OUSL, KDU, and Sri Lanka Law College qualify with an MOI letter.
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (£) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (1-year programme) | £28,000 | Rs. 11,200,000 |
| Living Expenses (12 months, Nottingham) | £11,000 | Rs. 4,400,000 |
| Student Visa & IHS | £1,300 | Rs. 520,000 |
| Books, Legal Databases & Mooting Travel | £800 | Rs. 320,000 |
| Total Programme Investment | £41,100 | Rs. 16,440,000 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
Eligible for the 2-year UK Graduate Route on completion. Nottingham LLM grads place into the UK legal sector (paralegal-to-trainee tracks at City firms with international arbitration practices — Clifford Chance, Hogan Lovells, Herbert Smith Freehills, Allen & Overy; many require the SQE for English qualification), into NGO and international organisation roles (UNHCR, ICRC, the International Bar Association), and into academic posts back home. Sri Lankan returnees route into the Attorney General's Department, the Foreign Ministry legal division, commercial law firms (Julius & Creasy, F.J. & G. de Saram, Nithya Partners, Sudath Perera Associates, Neelakandan & Neelakandan), and the Bar Association — Attorney-at-Law admission via the Sri Lanka Law College remains the qualifying step for Sri Lankan practice. Senior in-house counsel positions at JKH, Brandix, Dialog Axiata, HNB, Commercial Bank are also a typical post-LLM track.
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